NASA Innovations In Climate Education “Building a Diverse Green Workforce: Integrating Climate Change Education into Community College Green Career Education and Training” Gloria Mwase, Jobs for the Future Julian Keniry, National Wildlife Federation Mila Simeonovska, Wilbur Wright College June 28, 2012

GREENFORCE INITIATIVE: refining pathways leading to green sector careers for low- income workers and young adults JFF: “Green” sectors present new opportunities to develop and implement strategies to employ and advance lower-skilled adults NWF: Climate change is a top threat to wildlife and people and we need to prepare the current and future workforce to address it The Greenforce initiative Bank of America Charitable Foundation, CS Mott Foundation, NASA 2

“Building a Diverse Green Workforce” PROJECT GOALSEXPECTED OUTCOMES 1. Enhance instructor preparedness to address climate change science in various workforce curricula Better prepared faculty: 9+ faculty at 3-4 community colleges learn about new resources and receive PD on evidence-based instructional approaches 2. Strengthen adult learner green STEM career education to support development of workers with climate change science knowledge Better informed students and workers: 180+ students increase their knowledge of climate change science, its impact on selected occupations 3. Expand awareness of STEM or climate change science-related careers for community college students Stronger redesigned courses; greater visibility of climate change science issues. Climate change science-infused courses draw link between environment and work and are more attractive to students. 4. Adapt and disseminate curricula and other products that incorporate NASA resources and tools. New curricular resources and tools: Modified curricula, instructional guides and other resources disseminated to field.

Partners Jobs for the Future National Wildlife Federation Community Colleges: Edgecombe Community College (NC) Wayne County Community College District (Detroit, MI) Wilbur Wright College (Chicago, IL) Evaluator: Elisabeth Barnett, Columbia University Science and Curriculum Advisors: NASA staff: Jeannie Allen, Brian Campbell, Holli Riebeek, Paul Stackhouse The National Council for Science and the Environment Michelle Zurawski, Moraine Valley Community College

Key Activities Piloting New Curricula Modules and Tools -Fall 2012/Spring 2013 Student pre and post assessments New curricula modules building on Climate Change Connections STEM Career exploration modules Use of CAMEL online platform for faculty and student engagement Faculty Professional Development Monthly engagement to support curricula changes and pilots Two College-based Institutes in 2013 to expand adoption Documentation and Dissemination Evaluation

Greenforce and Wright College Collaboration Three faculty were chosen to participate in the Climate Change enhancing curriculum project The project started in Biology 121, Chemistry 121, and Environmental Biology classes Each faculty member started with an assignment, which incorporated data from MY NASA DATA website

Greenforce and Wright College Collaboration Benefits: Increase Climate Change literacy Provide an opportunity for our students to be exposed to “real life” experience Apply the acquired knowledge and suggest climate change solutions Improve student learning and engagement

Questions? For More Information: Gloria Cross Mwase TEL FAX Broad Street, 8 th Floor, Boston, MA